Folding lap desk



E. A. HERMAN FOLDING LAP DESK Filed May 25, 1955 United States PatentO FOLDING LAP DESK Edith Anne Bel-man, Washington, D. C. Application May 23, 1955, Serial No. 510,421

8 @laims. (Cl. 311-25) This invention relates to a portable lap desk and more particularly to a folding lap desk presenting an improvement over the lap desk disclosed by me in my Patent No. 2,596,094, May 13, 1952.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a folding lap desk which is rugged and economical in construction, pleasing in appearance and highly utilitarian for many different purposes. The unit is of light weight despite its heavy loading capabilities and is capable of convenient portability as a result of the compactness of its design. This compactness also enables it to be stored within a limited space.

It is another object of the invention to provide a lap desk which affords a secure and stable writing surface for a secretary or stenographer while sitting on a chair and taking dictation, in consequence of the special sup ports extending downwardly from the underside of the lap desk, which supports are kept in place by the thighs of the stenographer overlying the inwardly turned extensions from the vertical supports, the advantages of which arrangement are fully developed in my earlier patent.

It is another object of the invention to provide specially designed pivotally mounted supports for a lap desk which are pivotally mounted to the underside thereof, and which may be securely retained in their operative and inoperative positions by means of special fastenings and interengagement of the parts.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a fold able lap desk which is capable of many diversified 'uses and which not only affords a comfortable and effective desk for writing and reading, but may also serve as a desk shelf capable of different elevations when the supporting members are in extended and collapsed position.

The invention proceeds upon the principle of providing pivotally mounted supports, each ofwhich is of identical congruous construction of C-shaped cross-sectional configuration, which may be swung into operative position and fastened securely to the underside of the lap desk by means of detachable snap fasteners.

In such position the spacing between the vertical supports is such that there is an adequate spread therebetween to accommodate the thighs of a person sitting on a chair in overlying relation to the horizontal seating flanges of the vertical supports which are resting on the chair. Alternatively, the vertical supports of C-shaped configuration may be swung inwardly against the desk top to collapse theunit for occupying a minimum amount of space and for easy portability. The several parts of the vertical supports are specially designed with widened and narrowed portions and with openings in the former'to accommodate the complementary parts of the opposing supports in their collapsed position so that the supports are retained in place resiliently without need for extraneous fasteners. The component parts of the supports are so designed that maximum strength is obtained for the least weight. Even in its collapsed condition, the unit is characterized by a high degree of stability and may be used as a shelf of low elevation.

Other objects and purposes will appear from the detailed description of the invention following hereinafter, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. l is a perspective view of the lap tive position;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the lap desk looking at the underside thereof with the supports extended in operative position; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view corresponding to Fig. 2 showing the supports in their nearly fully collapsed position.

The lap desk in accordance with the present invention may be formed of any sheet material such as plywood, fiberboard, plastic or metal, although I have found aluminum most desirable in consequence of the resulting light construction and the capability of finishing this metal in attractive finishes made possible by anodizing or lacquering. The anodizing of the different aluminum parts of the unit in contrasting colors results in an attractive oflice or living room accessory, and the finishing of the desk top in black with the supports in gold produces a particularly attractive unit. Front and rear flanges 2, extending downwardlyfrom the longitudinal edges of the desk, serve to impart rigidity to the unit as well as comfort when the same is disposed in front of a user. A recess 15, disposed adjacent one of the ends 16 of the lap desk affords a convenient handhold to enhance the portability of the lap desk without substantially reducing the extent of the Working top surface.

On the underside of the desk surface, which may approximate twelve by tWenty-two inches, may be afiixed a pair of hinge straps 3 and 3, and this aflixation may be executed by means of riveting, brazing, welding or in any other known manner. The hinge straps 3, 3 preferably extend transversely to the length of the desk symmetrically with respect to the transverse median there-- of, but nonsymmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the desk. Thus, the disposition of the transverse straps 3, 3 closer to one of the flanges 2 makes possible the selective positioning of the desk to obtain a more comfortable setting of the desk relative to the user in dependence upon the size and posture of the user, the type of. chair being used, and the function to be performed with the lap desk.

A pair of C-shaped supports 4, 4' are pivotally mounted to the straps 3, 3 by means of pintles It), 10', respectively. Each of the vertical supports 4, 4 are identical in construction, but in the assembly of these supports to the underside of the desk they are arranged to face each other, as clearly shown in the drawing; since the parts are identical in construction, corresponding parts desk in its operahave been designated by the same reference characters with the differentiation of a prime applied to the element of the support on the left. The support 4 is formed by an upper horizontal fastening flange or member 5, a vertical leg member 6 and a horizontal seating flange or memher 7, and the opposing supporting member 4 is formed of corresponding parts 5, 6 and 7'. While the upper flanges 5 and 5', which are continuations of the upper parts 6a and6cz of the vertical supports 6 and 6, are of substantial Width in order to provide strong and rugged .ports, the lower seating flanges 7 and '7 merge smoothly with the portions 6b and 6b of the intermediate supports.

Male fastener elements 11, 11' are aflixed to the underside of the desk beyond the hinged joints 10, 10 and preferably equidistantly from the ends of these hinged joints. Companion female fastener elements 12, 12' are disposed in deep dimples in the upper flanges 5, 5', abutting the underside of the desk, for selective cooperative engagement with the male fasteners 11 and 11', respectively. Thus, as shown in Fig. 2, when the supports are swung into operative position, this is done with suflicient force to effect the engagement between the snap fasteners 11, 12 and 11', 12, respectively, so that the supports remain in such position despite movements of the desk until such time that the supports are swung inwardly with sufficient force to disengage the components of the snap fasteners. When this occurs, the supports assume the position shown in Fig. 3. In order to accommodate the legs or supports in perfectly nested position, opening 8 is provided in the enlarged portion 6a of the vertical support 6, which is of a width to accommodate the narrow parts of the opposing leg 6, namely parts 6b, 6c and 6d, and permitting the seating flange 7.of the opposing support to rest adjacent to the pivotal joint on strap 3 and inwardly of the fastening flange 5. Likewise, opening 8 in the enlarged portion 6a of support 6 permits the seating flange 7 to extend therethrough and the portion 6d of the support 6 is retained Within the end of the opening 8 with a degree of resilience or springiness so that the parts are sprung in collapsed condition until they are separated forcibly. The width of the openings 8, 8 is such as to accommodate without difficulty the reduced portions of the supports 6b, 7 and the intermediate parts 60 and 6d as well as corresponding parts of the support in the opposing leg, namely, 6b, 7', 6c and 6d. If desired, the intermediate parts 60 and 6d as well as 60 and 6d may form parts of single smooth curves as the vertical supports 6b and 6b merge into the horizontal seating flanges 7 and 7, respectively. The parts are so arranged that either 6 or 6 may be swung first into collapsed condition with the opposite support nesting therewith in such collapsed condition. In the fully collapsed position of the legs, the free edge 17 of flange 7 may rest on strap 3 adjacent to the pintle 10 while the free edge 17 of flange 7 may rest on strap 3 adjacent to the pintle 10, without need for extraneous fasteners to keep these supports in engaged position.

The swinging of the vertical supports around the axes of the hinges 10, 10' increases the spacing between the vertical supports in their operative position to the extent of the combined width of the upper fastening flanges 5, 5, thereby affording adequate space for the thighs of the person using the lap desk, which overlie the lower flanges 7 and 7'.

A lap desk as described herein may be used as a foot stool in its inoperative position if an elevation of approximately three inches is desired. The unit is'highly portable since when the same is fabricated of aluminum it weighs little more than three pounds.

While I have described my invention as embodied in a specific form and as operating in a specific manner for purposes of illustration, it should be understood that I do not limit my invention thereto, since various modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. A folding lap desk comprising a desk top of sheet material, a pair of spaced supports for said desk top adapted to assume alternative operative and inoperative positions, each of said supports being formed of substantially C-shaped cross-sectional configuration with the open ends of the C facing each other in the upstanding vertical position of the supports, hinges aflixed to the underside of the desk top transversely of the length thereof to pivotally mount the upper free edges of the C- shaped supports, a fastener member affixed to the upper face of each of said C-shaped supports, a companion fastener member aflixed to the underside of said desk top for detachably engaging said first-mentioned fastener member when said C-shaped support is rotated into operative position to bring the top of the G-shaped support into juxtaposition with the underside of the desk top, the side of the support into vertical position and the bottom of the support into substantially horizontal position, said hinges being spaced to permit the alternate inward swinging of said C-shaped supports towards each other and the nesting thereof within each other on the underside of said desk top.

2. A folding lap desk comprising a desk top of sheet material, a pair of spaced supports for said desk top adapted to assume alternative operative and inoperative positions, each of said supports being formed of substantially C-shaped cross-sectional configuration with the open ends of the C facing each other in the upstanding vertical position of the supports and eachcornprising an upper fastening flange, a lower seating flange and an intermediate supporting member, hinges afiixed to the underside of the desk top transversely of the length thereof to pivotally mount the free edges of said upper fastening flanges, a fastener member aflixed to the upper face of each of said fastening flanges, a companion fastener member alfixed to the underside of said desk top for detachably engaging said first-mentioned fastener member when said C-shaped support is rotated into operative position to bring the top of said fastening flange into juxtaposition with the underside of the desk top, said hinges being spacedinwardly of the ends of the desk top but sutficiently far apart to permit the alternate inward swinging of said C-shaped supports towards each other and the nesting thereof within each other on the undersideof said table top, whereupon the free ends of the respective seating flanges come to rest adjacent to the pivotal joints between the hinges and the free ends of the opposite fastening flanges and inwardly of the latter.

3. A folding lap desk comprising a desk top of sheet material, a pair of spaced sheet metal supports for said desk top adapted to assume alternative operative and inoperative positions, each of said supports being formed of substantially O-shaped cross-sectional configuration with the open ends of the C facing each other in the upstanding vertical position of the supports and each comprising an upper fastening flange of substantial Width, a lower seating flange of reduced width and an interme diate supporting member having portions of different widths conforming to the widths of the flanges adjoining said portions, hinges aflixed to the underside of the desk top transversely of the length thereof and of a length corresponding to the substantial width of said fastening flanges to pivotally mount the free edges of said upper fastening flanges, a fastener member affixed to the upper face of each of said fastening flanges, a companion fastener member aflixed to the underside of said desk top for detachably engaging said first-mentioned fastener member when said C-shaped support is rotated into operative position to bring the top of said fastening flange into juxtaposition with the underside of the desk top, saidhinges being spaced to permit the alternate inward swinging of said C-shaped supports towards each other and the nesting thereof Within each other on the underside of said desk top.

4. A folding lap desk as set forth in claim 3 wherein the fastening flanges of the sheet metal supports are perpendicular to the adjoining portions of the respective intermediate supporting members and the lower seating flanges of the sheet metal supports merge smoothly into the adjoining portions of the respective intermediate supporting members.

5. A folding lap desk comprising a desk top of sheet material, a pair of spaced sheet metal supports for said desk top adapted to assume alternative operative and inoperative positions, each of said supports being formed of substantially C-shaped cross-sectional configuration with the open ends of the C facing each other in the upstanding vertical position of the supports and each comprising an upper fastening flange of substantial width, a lower seating flange of reduced width and an intermediate supporting member having portions of different widths conforming to the widths of the flanges adjoining said portions, hinges aflixed to the underside of the desk top transversely of the length thereof and of a length corresponding to the substantial width of said fastening flanges to pivotally mount the free edges of said upper fastening flanges, a fastener member afiixed to the upper face of each of said fastening flanges, a companion fastener member affixed to the underside of said desk top for detachably engaging said first-mentioned fastener member when said C-shaped support is rotated into operative position to bring the top of said fastening flange into juxtaposition with the underside of the desk top, said hinges being spaced to permit the alternate inward swinging of said C-shaped supports towards each other and the nesting thereof within each other on the underside of said desk top, and said portion of said intermediate supporting member adjacent to said fastening flange having an opening therein of a width slightly greater than the width of said seating flange and the supporting member adjacent thereto whereby the free ends of the respective seating flanges come to rest adjacent to the pivotal joints between the hinges and the free ends of the opposite fastening flanges and inwardly of the latter.

6. A folding lap desk as set forth in claim 5 wherein the overlying support in the collapsed position of the desk engages the opening in the other support resiliently.

7. A folding lap desk comprising a desk top of sheet material, a pair of spaced sheet metal supports for said desk top adapted to assume alternative operative and inoperative positions, each of said supports being formed of substantially C-shaped cross-sectional configuration with the open ends of the C facing each other in the upstanding vertical position of the supports and each comprising an upper flange of substantial width, a lower seating flange of reduced width and intermediate supporting member having portions of different widths conforming to the widths of the flanges adjoining said portions, hinges aflixed to the underside of the desk top transversely of the length thereof and of a length corresponding to the substantial width of said upper flanges to pivotally mount the free edges of said upper flanges, said hinges being spaced to permit the alternate inward swinging of said O-shaped supports towards each other and the nesting thereof Within each other on the underside of said desk top, and said portion of said intermediate supporting member adjacent to said upper flange having an opening therein of a width slightly greater than the width of said seating flange and the supporting member adjacent thereto whereby the free ends of the respective seating flanges come to rest adjacent to the pivotal joints between the hinges and the free ends of the opposite upper flanges and inwardly of the latter, said interengagement of said supports being yieldingly self-retaining.

8. A folding lap desk comprising a desk top of metallic sheet material adapted to overlie the lap of a person in sitting position upon a chair, a pair of spaced sheet metal supports for said desk top adapted to assume alternative operative and inoperative positions, each of said supports being formed of substantially C-shaped cross-sectional configuration with the open ends of the C facing each other in the operative position of the supports to straddle the lap of a person using the desk, hinges aflixed to the underside of the desk top transversely of the length thereof to pivotally mount the upper free edges of the C- shaped supports, a snap fastener member aflixed to the upper face of each of said C-shaped supports, a companion snap fastener member affixed to the underside of said desk top for detachably engaging said first-mentioned fastener member when said C-shaped support is rotated into operative position to bring the top of the C-shaped support in to juxtaposition with the underside of the desk top, the side of the support into vertical position and the bottom of the support into position for engagement by the overlying thighs of the sitter, said hinges being spaced to permit the alternate inward swinging of said C-shaped supports towards each other and the nesting thereof within each other on the underside of said desk top.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,600,823 Hess Sept. 21, 1926 1,782,623 McCaslin Nov. 25, 1930 2,054,098 Rich Sept. 15, 1936 2,324,684 Dietz July 20, 1943 2,472,962 Shuflin June 14, 1949 2,596,094 Berman May 13, 1952 

